Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac was unhappy with the penalty decision in their 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Die Kraichaguer struck two spot-kicks through Andrej Kramaric, beating the BVB in stoppage-time to inflict a second league defeat in a row.
This one, though, proved fatal as Bayern Munich won the following day to be crowned German champions once more, ending Dortmund's already-slim title hopes.
Having won on their last five visits to Hoffenheim, they were given a surprise here as their out-of-form hosts appeared uncharacteristically stoic at the back.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim came flying out of the blocks, looking dominant and going close on two occasions. Their persistence paid off in the 42nd minute when they were awarded a penalty.
Sule lost his footing while stepping backwards in tracking an onrushing Kramaric, who then attempted a meek effort which although came off the German's arm.
Following a VAR review by the referee, Hoffenheim were awarded a penalty which Kramaric dispatched into the right corner for 1-0.
Kovac, however, felt Sule had pulled back his arm and the handball wasn't deliberate, doubting the refereeing decision. After the game, he told the press:
"“We saw TSG clearly dominate in the first half. We weren’t in the game. We gave the ball away too easily. We didn’t create enough going forward and then fell behind from a penalty. It was given, so I accept that. The hand was away from the body. How that came about is probably not important.""said Kovac
Trailing 1-0 at the break, Die Borussen came flying out of the blocks after the interval and started on the stronger foot. Kovac even introduced their talisman Serhou Guirassy for Fabio Silva.
The move paid off towards the end of normal time as the Guinean international received the ball near the area and struck a long-range wowzer on the half-turn to make it 1-1.
In the fourth minute of stoppage-time though, Julian Ryerson was also found guilty for a handball and Hoffenheim were awarded a second penalty which Kramaric dispatched once again.
Kovac lamented his side's inability to create enough goalscoring opportunities besides Guirassy's strike and felt that the loss was justified.
""The second half was much better from us. We moved the ball around much better, we positioned ourselves better, we pushed the opposition back. Apart from the goal and a half-chance, however, we still didn’t manage to create many more goal-scoring opportunities. And with the second penalty, we lost. That’s a shame for us, but not undeserved.”"added the Croatian
Dortmund remained in second place of the Bundesliga table with 64 points from 30 games, 15 adrift of champions Bayern Munich.
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